Around the Big Ten
Power Rankings
1. Ohio State
I love how unfazed Ohio State was in last week’s game when it went to overtime against the Badgers. Run to the right with Carlos Hyde for 10 yards. Run to left with Braxton Miller for 10 yards. Up the gut with Hyde for five yards and a score. Just kicked ’em right in the teeth. Fantastic stuff from Tim Tebow’s former coach there.
2. Nebraska
So it’s looking like the Huskers are going to make it to this year’s Big Ten championship game. I wish them the best of luck against the Badgers, but the worst of luck against whichever team they face in their first ever Rose Bowl appearance. It’s sad that the best opponent they’ll face this season resides on the West Coast, where football is third behind Major League Soccer and water polo.
3. Michigan
That was a stomping if I have ever seen one against Iowa last week. I think Michigan is a better team with Devin Gardner under center and Denard Robinson playing anything that’s not throwing-the-ball-related. If Brady Hoke can scrap together a good game plan for Shoelace, I think the Wolverines might actually have a chance against Ohio State in THE GAME.
4. Penn State
Even though Penn State stomped all over Indiana, they may have lost all-world linebacker Michael Mauti for the season, which is really just a crying shame. He was the undisputed leader of that team, and he will certainly be missed when they take on Wisconsin — he was the world’s last chance to stop Montee Ball from reaching the NCAA touchdowns record.
5. Northwestern
Like I said in an earlier post, it should be illegal for Northwestern to be good at anything that doesn’t involve pizza-faced teens fiddling around with electronics and batteries or what have you. What’s sad is they’ll finish the season with nine wins and go to a decent bowl. What isn’t sad is the fact the Kitties will play a good team that actually watches film and is familiar with who Kain Colter is and what he does.
6. Wisconsin
I hate the fact that that the badgers are on their 3rd string quarterback and he’s still making passes that Vandy can only dream about from a season ago. Montee will probably break the touchdown record this week, which sucks, because he plays for Wisconsin. No further explanation needed.
7. Michigan State
Andrew Maxwell isn’t very good, but I bet he torches Minnesota’s secondary for at least 300 yards and a few scores this week. The Spartans have Le’Veon Bell, too. So expect around 1,000 or so yards from Michigan State this week.
8. Minnesota
The Gilded Rodents have got to be the worst bowl-eligible team in the country. That’s something I could easily investigate, but I care not to spend that kind of time on anything Minnesota-related. Plus I’ve got a pretty good Turkey drunk going on right now.
9. Purdue
It’s the battle of the best football teams the state of Indiana has to offer when the Boilermakers take on the Hoosiers this week. That’s really all I have to say about this.
10. Indiana
See above.
11. Iowa
Well, here it is. Iowa football. Second worst in the conference. Drink it in, folks. Kirk has led us to believe there isn’t a quarterback other than Vandy on the roster, so there is lots to look forward to next season. Iowa always gets really good recruiting classes, though, so I’m not too worried about it.
12. Illinois
I wish Iowa and Illinois would agree to play a game after the season’s end so we can determine once and for all who truly is the worst team in all the land. Think of how they could market it: the Toilet Bowl, the Midwest Incompetence Bowl, the HOW DID IOWA GET HERE Bowl. Kirk would never allow it, though, because it’s what the fans want.
Games to watch
Michigan at Ohio State
Time: 11 p.m.
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Where to watch: ABC
Key Highlights
THE GAME. It’s sort of lost its luster over the past few years because of tattoos, and Michigan’s collapse at the end of every single season. And since Ohio State can’t even go to a bowl game, this game only really means something if Michigan wins. Remember when the Big Ten was good, and this game was consistently No. 1 vs. No. 2? Yeah, me, neither.
Wisconsin at Penn State
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: State College, Pa.
Where to watch: ESPN2
Key Highlights
Like THE GAME, this matchup really is important for only one team. It looks as though Nebraska will be going to the Big Ten championship game, and Penn State won’t — for years. Still, it’s a chance for Montee Ball to break the NCAA touchdowns record, which I doubt even Wisconsin students want, seeing as he got beat up by classmates on two separate occasions in the off-season.
Offensive Impact
Name: Devin Gardner
Position: Quarterback
Year: Junior
Gardner showed everything a good quarterback has against Iowa this past weekend. Poise, arm strength, scrambling ability, and not turning the rock over. And this is coming from a former wide receiver. Some teams just have all the luck. He might have all positives of Denard Robinson and none of the negatives.
Defensive Impact
Name: Ryan Shazier
Position: Linebacker
Year: Sophomore
Shazier just tore it up last week against Wisconsin, recording 12 tackles, 3 for a loss. He also knocked the rock out of Montee Ball’s grip to all but seal the deal and stop what was once thought to be the best running attack in college football ever. He’ll likely be charged with containing Devin Gardner at quarterback and Denard Robinson at whatever he does this week in THE GAME, too. Shazier on keeping Ball from breaking the touchdown record last week:
“We knew he needed two to break the record, and we were not going to allow him to break it on us,” Shazier told the Cleveland Plains-Dealer. “We gave him the tie, but we were not allowing him to break it.”
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